The Nigerian Army has suspended all statutory and voluntary retirements for certain categories of officers following the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu late last month.
The suspension, contained in an internal memo dated December 3 and signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, is aimed at preserving manpower and operational experience as the military expands recruitment to confront a deepening wave of mass abductions.
The decision comes after Nigeria recorded over 600 cases of kidnappings in November alone. Among the most high-profile incidents were the abduction of more than 300 students in Niger State, 38 church worshippers in Kwara, and 25 students in Kebbi State.
President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26 and directed the military, police, and intelligence agencies to increase recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel to crisis zones.
The memo cites the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, which under Paragraph 3.10(e) allows for service extensions “in the interest of the military.” Normally, officers retire upon reaching mandatory age limits, completing 35 years of service, or after repeated promotion failures.
